Stephens College hosts panel to discuss women in film

COLUMBIA — For the second year, Stephens College is holding a panel discussion with female documentarians about women in film and independent filmmaking. The "Women of T/F" will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

The free, public event is at 10 a.m. Friday in room 27 of Helis Communication Center, 1405 E. Broadway, at Stephens.

"The film industry seems very progressive from the outside," said Kerri Yost, one of the organizers and co-director of the college's Citizen Jane Film Festival. "But, truthfully, we are behind in this area compared to the rest of society and certainly most other professions."

Panelists will be Gabriela Cowperthwaite, director of "Blackfish"; Sarah Gavron, director of "Village at the End of the World"; Lucy Walker, director of "Crash Reel"; Madeleine Sackler, director of "The Lottery"; and Liz Ogilvie of Fandor, an online movie screening website.

The event was scheduled to coincide with the True/False Film Fest, which starts Thursday night and runs through Sunday.

"There’s an energy with True/False just getting started," Yost said. "And I think our guests feel like they can be open away from the film businesses on the coasts, at a more intimate festival and at a women’s college."